Rail anchor



Oct. 18, 1932. H. G. WARR 1,883,147

RAIL ANCHOR Filed May 25, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l r. Tl. E 0T V v 6m/d a Q/ff orngys Patented Oct. 18, 1932 UNITED STATES `PA'PIENT OFFICE HAROLD G. WARR, OF PARK RIDGE, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE 1' &; M COMPANY, F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS RAIL ANCHOR Application filed may Y25, 1931. serial No. 539,857.

My invention relates to rail anchors and particularly to rail anchor devices consisting of twoparts, one of said parts being adapted to be driven into gripping engagement with one flange only of a rail base in a position to bear against a cross tie and the other part being formed to grip opposite flanges of a rail base and to maintain the gripping member in its rail gripping position.

The principal object of this invention is to provide improvements in a' two-piece` anchor in which the separate parts are so formed and cooperate with each other that one member, when it is driven'into tight gripping engagement with one flange ofV a rail is held in its said tight gripping engagement by the coaction of the other member. In this connection the invention contemplates the provision of a rail flange gripping member having relatively rigid gripping jaws and a bar, the latter being resilient and adapted to be driven through the rigid member into gripping engagement with the top and bottom surfaces of one base flange and into locking engagement with the other base flange of the rail, the vengagement of the parts with each other being such as to maintain them in proper operative position onthe rail.

Another object is to provide a rail anchor of the above general character in which the rigid gripping member is so formed that it will support the under rail portion of the bar member up against the bottom of the rail base, the said bar member being so formed as to abut against the upper portion of said gripping member to hold it in its applied position.` To this end,` the invention provides a. gripping member having aw portions spaced longitudinally of the rail and united with vertically disposed webs which may be arranged out of alignment. One of said webs is adapted to serve as a seat forthe under rail portion of the bar and the other web serving as an abutment for a resilient portion of the bar member, whereby springpressure of the bar against the rigid member at a point above the plane of the under rail portion of the bar exerts an upward pressureon the bar, thereby forcing the under rail portion thereof against the bottom .surface of the rail.

1 A further object of the invention is to so form the bar member that the loop end thereof which embraces one base flange of the rail embraces also a portion of the rigid member so as to hold both members engagedy with each other when free of the rail, the said engagement of the parts being such as to prevent movements of the bar beyond its properposition when the anchor is being driven on the rail.

Further objects of the invention will be apparent from the detailed description of the two embodiments of the inventionl shown in the accompanying drawings:

In the drawings Fig. l is a plan View of the base portion of a railroad rail showing a rail anchor constructed in accordance with my invention applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken through the rail base and rail vanchor as shown in Fig. l looking in the direction toward the cross tie.

Fig. 3 is a view in perspective of a rigid rail gripping member forming a part of the embodiment shown in Figs. l and f2.

Fig. 4 is a cross section through the base portion of a rail showing a modified embodiment of my invention applied thereto in a position to bear against a vertical face of a cross tie. y

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view, partly in section, of the anchor part shown in Fig. 4; the said parts being illustrated in this figure engaged with each other but free of the rail.

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 4, and

Fig. 7 is a view in perspective of the rigid rail engaging member forming a part of the rail anchor shown in Fig. 4.V

Referring first to Figs. l to 3 inclusive Sil' showing one embodiment of my invention. In these figures the base portionof a railroad rail is designated by the reference character 10 and which, it will be understood, is supported on a plurality of cross ties, one of said cross ties being indicated by the reference character 11'. The rail anchor device consists of a rigid rail gripping member 12 and a resilient holding member 13, the latter of which embraces the base flange of a rail and bears resiliently against the Outer portion of the gripping member to hold the gripping member in its applied position. Y

The gripping member 12 herein shown consists preferably of spaced Yplates 14 and 15 united by means of vertically disposed-webs 16 and 17. rIhe webs 16 and 17 are preferably spaced from each other both verticallyv and transversely of the rail, the web 16 being located so as to assume a position beneath the rail base when the gripping memberis in itsv applied position. The web 17 is located so as to assume a position preferably outside the plane of the vertical edge of the rail base flange engaged by the rigid member.y The plates 14 and 15 are notched to provide upper jaws 12S-13n and lower `iaws 19-19, which,

are adapted to be forced into tight frictional engagement with the top'and bottom surfaces of one base flange of the rail. The width of the plates 14 and 15 are preferably such as to prevent any substantial yielding of the upper and lower jaws when they are driven into gripping engagement with the base flange of.

the rail. The gripping member herein shown i is preferably made of cast metal. It will be obvious howeverthat the detailsof construction might be varied within'the scope of the appended claims whereby the gripping member could be made of suicient rigidity in other forms and with any desired quality of material. v I

The holding member 13 consists preferably of a spring metal bar having an Aunder- 1 rail portion which extends across beneath.

the rail and preferably, though not necessarily, Vin contact with the base of the rail throughout the full width of the rail base. One end of the bar 13 is formed with a shoulder 2O adapted to engage over the edge of tho base ange 21. The other end of the bar preferably seats on the upper edge'of the-` web 16 of the gripping member and is formed with a resilient hook portion 22. The hook portion preferably extends upwardly fromv the plane of the under-rail portion 13 of the bar with the extremity 23 of the hool; ei;- tending downwardly at an angle to the bar and engaging the vertical edge 24 of the rail base when the anchor is in its fully/applied position. The hook end of the baris so formed` that the inclined surface 25 thereof bears against the lower edge of the-web 17 of the gripping member. T he said hoolr portion and the length of the bar 13 is so proportioned that it is necessary, in order to force the locking shoulder 20 to its rail gripping position to flex the resilient hook end of the holding member. This flexing is accomplished by driving the member 13 transversely of the rail from the dotted line position to the full line position shown in Fig. 2. The flexing of the hook end of the holding member serves to depress the hook as indicated by the reference character 26.' rlhe upper end of the web 16 of the gripping member servesjas av fulcrum about which the resilient pressure of the hook end tends to rock the end 20 of the holding member upwardly into engagement-with the edge of the rail base. Y rFhe inclined upper surface of the hool together with the depressed portion 26 thereof, by their engagement with the rigid member serveto resist any outward movement of the rigid member. Inward movement of the extremity of the hook portion of the holding member is limited by engagement of said end of the hook with the web 17 and th vertical edge 24 of the rail base.

1n applying this anchor to the rail the holding member is first inserted in the space between the webs 16 and 17. rlie rigid gripping member is then drivenupon the base flange of the rail in a position whereby one of the plates 14'--15 will bear against the vertical face of a cross tie. After the rigid member is driven to its fully appiied position, the holding memberis driven transversely of the rail until the extremity of the hook portion comes into contact with the vertical edge 24 of the base flange. In this position of thev holding member the inclined portion 25 of the hook will bear against the lower portion of the web 17, of the rigid member and the locking shoulder 20 at the other end of the holding member will remain beneath the base flange substantially as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2. By striking the .hook end of the holding 'member the hookend is caused to yield transversely of the rail until the shoulder 20 snaps overthe edge of the base flange 21. This flexing of the hook end of the holding member also serves to depress Vit at 26 and puts the hook portion under strain whereby the reflex action of the said hook portion tends to hold the shoulder 2O in its locking engagement with the rail and also exerts a spring grip transversely of the rail. rhe transverse resilience of the hook portion of the holding member effects a clamping action-on oppositie flanges of the rail base and compensates for variations in the dimensions ofV the parts of the anchor.

The embodiment illustrated in Figs. 4 to 7 inclusive is a two-piece anchor device, the

parts ofwhich are in general similar to the is formed at one end with an open loop designated generally by the reference character 28 which embraces one angeof the rail base,

the said loop providing a resilient upper jaw` 29 which bears upon the inclined uppersurface of the said base fia-nge and a lower `jaw 30 which bears against the bottom surface of said base flange when'the bar is driven transversely of the rail to its applied position as shown in Fig. 4. The other end of the bar is formed with an uptu'rned portion 31 which provides a locking shoulder adapted to snap over the lower corner of the other base flange of the rail when the loop end of the bar is driven to its normal operative position on the rail. The distance between the jaw 29 and the under-rail portion or jaw 30 of the bar is normally less than the thickness of the rail base when the anchor is free of the rail (see Fig. '5). Consequently in driving the bar to its applying position the jaw 29 is flexed upwardly relative to the under rail portion of the bar and thereby exerts a vertical spring grip on the base flange. This vertical grip is intensified by reasonof the engagement of the jaw 29 with aI portion of the rigid member hereinafter described which serves to restrain the upward flexing of the said jaw. The rigid member of the anchor is designated by the reference character 32 and consists of plates33, 34, supported in spaced relation to each other longitudinally of the rail by means of integral webs 35, 36 spaced apart vertically with relation to each other to provide an opening through which the hooked end of the bar 27 is driven. The lower j aw 30 of the bar bears upon the upper edge of the web 35. width of said bearing is increased by forming each of the plates with inwardly projecting ledges 37 the upper faces of which coincide with the upper face of the web 35. The ledges 37 preferably extend beneath the bottom surface of the rail and serve to support the j aw 30 in firm engagement with the bottom of the rail base. The jaw 29 normally inclines downwardly toward the body of the bar but when driven to its applied position on the rail moves into engagement with the lower edge of the web 36, the latter serving to restrain the upward flexing of the jaw. Consequently when the bar 27 is driven to its applied position on the rail the hook end of the bar has a resilient wedging engage.- ment between the lower edge of the web 36 and the upper edge of the web 35 and ledges 37. This wedging engagement serves to hold the rigid member in tight gripping engagement with the top and bottom surfaces of the rail. The rear edge of the plates 337 34 lare preferably curved outwardly as indicated at 38 and are united by means of a cross bar 39, the outer face of which is preferably curved with a radius corresponding to the inner radius of the loop 28. The loop 28 embraces The the bar 27 is driven to its applied position on the rail the inner face of the loop 28 bears Y against the curved surface of the web 39, the latter serving as a positive stop to limit the applying movement of the bar, and alsov serves as a positive engagement between the bar and the rigid member to preventl move` ment of the rigid member outwardly in a direction to reduce the grip of its jaws 40, 41 onthe top and bottom surfaces'of the rail base. The outer edges of the ears 38-38 are formed of a slightly larger radius than the radius of the outer face of the loop 28 so that when the bar 27 is driven to its applied position there will be a slight clearance between the outer face of the loop 28 and the outer edges of said ears. With this construction the edges of the ears 38-38 receive or absorb the force of the final blow of the sledge and thereby avoid driving the bar 27 beyond its intended applied position such as might result in the event thatthe bar 39 were forced inwardly toward the edge of the rail by the final blow of the sledge.

The embodiment of the invention'v above described is applied in the same general manner as that described 1n connection with Figs.' The Jaws 40,41 of the rigid l to 3 inclusive. member are hooked over one edge of the rail base. The loop end 28 of the bar is then struck with a suitable sledge to force it transversely of the rail until the outer face of the loop coincides with the outer edges of the ears 38-38 whereupon the final blow of the sledge drives the jaws ,LO-Jil into firm contact with the top and bottom surfaces of the rail base and forces the locking shoulder 31 of the bar over the opposite edge of the rail base so as to hold both the bar and the rigid member in their intended operative position.

I claim:

l. A rail anchor comprising in combination a gripping member adapted to engage one base fiange of a rail and a holding member extending across beneath the rail for maintaining the gripping member in its applied position comprising a bar provided at one end with a shoulder for locking engagement with the opposite edge of the rail base, the other end of the holding member being provided with a resilient loop portion for bearing against said gripping member and the'vertical edge portion of the adjacent flange of the rail base and adapted to yield transversely of the rail to increasethe eff reason of the restricted opening between` the said j aw and t-he body vof the bar. WhenV fectivelength ofthe under-raill portion of said bar. v

2. A rail anchor comprising in combination a gripping member having spaced jaw portions for engagement over one flange of onthe lower bearing and formed at yone end with a locking shoulder for engagement with the other flange of the rail base and formed at the other end with ya portion adapted to bear against a vertical edge portion Vof the rail base and engage said other bearing inember at a point above the plane of said bar and adapted to yield transversely of thek rail to permit said locking member to be moved to its locking position.

3. A rail anchor comprising in combination a gripping member having spaced jaw portionsfor engagement over one flange of a rail base and a web portion uniting said jaw portions and providing upper and lower bearing members disposed respectively above and below the bottom surface of the rail base, and a holding member comprising a bar supported on said lower bearing and formed at one end with a locking shoulder for engagement with the other flange of the rail base and formed at the other end with a return bend which bears against the vertical edge of the rail and engages the said upper bearing of the gripping memberr and adapted to yield transversely of the rail, whereby the reflex of said return bend and its engagement with said lower bearing of the gripping member exertsan upward force on the under-rail portion of the bar to press it against the bottom surface of the rail.

4. A rail anchor comprising a gripping member notched to embrace one flange of a rail base and a resilient bar cooperating with vertically spaced bearings on the gripping member to maintain it in its operative gripping position on the rail; the bar member being formed at one end with means for locking engagement with one edge of the rail base and formed at a location adjacent the other edge of the rail base with a part for bearing against the vertical edge of the rail base, and having a wedging engagement between the said bearings of the gripping inember. f

5. A rail anchor comprising in combination a gripping member adapted to engage one base flange of a rail, a transverse bar member formed at one end with jaws for gripping the upper and lower surfaces of the same base flange, means engaging over the edge of the other base flange of the rail to hold said j aws in gripping engagement on the rail, and means on the gripping member em- 35 braced by the jaws of said bar, whereby the said member and bar are held engaged when free ofthe rail. l

6.` A rail anchor comprising in combination a gripping member adapted to engage onerbase flange of a rail, a transverse bar member formed at one end with jaws for gripping the upper and lower surfaces of the same base flange, means engaging over the edge of the other base flange of the rail to hold the said jaws in gripping engagement on the rail, and means on the gripping mem.- ber embraced by the ljaws of said bar and providing an abutment to limit the applying movement 'of said bar and to hold said gripping member against movement in a direction to loosen its grip on the rail.

7. A rail anchor comprising in combination a gripping member adapted to engage one base flange 'of a rail, a transverse bar member formed at one end with jaws for engagingy the upper and lower surfaces of the same base flange, means engaging over the edge of the other base flange of the rail to hold the said jaws in gripping engagement on'the rail, and means yon the gripping ineinber embraced by the jaws'of said bar and providing an abutment to limit the applying movement of said bar and to hold said gripping meinbei` and bar against separation when free of the rail.

8. A rail anchor comprising in combination a gripping member adapted to engage one base flange of a rail, a transverse bar member formed with an open loop providing jaws for gripping the upper and lower surfaces of the saine base flange, means engaging over the edge of the other base flange of the rail to hold said jaws in gripping engagement on the rail, and means on thev gripping member projecting into the loop of said bar to hold the said member and bar engaged againstv separation when free of the rail.

9. A rail anchor comprising in combination av gripping member adapted to engagev one base flange of a rail, a transverse bar member formed at one end with an open loop providing jaws for gripping the upper and lower surfaces of the same base flange, means engaging over the edge ofthe other base flange of the rail to hold the said jaws in gripping engagement on the rail and means on the gripping member projecting into the loop of said bar to hold said member and bar engaged against separation when free ofthe rail and providing an abutment to limit the applying movement of said bar and to restrain movement of said gripping member in a direction to loosen its grip on the rail.

10. A rail anchor comprising in combination a bar formed at one end with an open loop adapted by movement transversely of the rail to embrace the marginal portion of one flange of a rail base, means at the other end of the bar for locking engagement with the edge of the otherliange of the rail base,

and a rail base with upper and lowering bearings between which the loop end of the bar is driven into binding' engagement therewith, and means on said gripping member projecting into the loop portion of said bar to hold said bar and gripping member against separation when free of the rail.

11. A rail anchor comprising in combination a bar formed at one end with an open loop adapted by movement transversely of the rail to embrace the marginal portion of one flange ofthe rail base, means at the other end of the bar for locking engagement with the edge of the other fiange of the rail base, and a rail base gripping member provided with upper and lower bearings between which the loop end of the bar is driven into binding engagement therewith, and means on said gripping member projecting into the loop portion of said bar serving as a stop to limit the applying movement of said bar and by its engagement with said bar to hold said gripping member in its applied position on the rail. i

12. A rail anchor comprising in combination a bar formed at one end with an open loop adapted by movement transversely of the rail to embrace the marginal portion of one flange of a rail base, means at the other end of the bar for locking engagement with the edge of the other flange of the rail base, and a rail base gripping member provided with means serving as a bearing to support the under rail portionof lsaid bar against the bottom surface of the rail base, and means projecting into the loop portion of said bar serving to limit said transverse movement of said bar.

13. A rail anchor comprising in combination a bar formed at one end with an open loop adapted by movement transversely of the rail to embrace the marginal portion of one flange of a rail base, means at the other end of the bar for locking engagement with the edge of the other flange of the rail base, and a rail base gripping member provided with means serving as a bearing to support the under rail portion of said bar against the bottom surface of the rail base, and means spaced laterally from'said bearing and projecting into the loop portion oi" said bar serving to limit said transverse movement of said 14. A rail anchor comprising in combination a bar formed at one end with an open loop adapted by movement transversely of the rail to embrace the marginal portion of one flange of a rail base, means at the other end of the bar for locking engagement with the edge of the other flange of the rail base, and a rail base gripping member provided with means projecting beneath the rail base and serving as a bearing to support the underrail portion of said bar against the bottom gripping member providedy surface of the rail base, and means spaced laterally from said bearingand projecting into the loop portion of said bar serving to limit` said transverse movement of said bar.

15. A rail anchor comprisingrin combination a barl formed at one end -withan'open loop adapted by movement transversely of the rail to embrace Vthe marginal portion of one flange of a rail base, means at the other end of the barfor locking engagement with the edge of the other flange of the rail base, and arail base gripping member provided withupper andlower bearings between-which the loop end ofthe bar is driven into binding engagement therewith, said bearings being spaced laterally of each other transversely of the Vgrail, whereby the said binding engagement of the said loop portion therebetween stresses said bar to force the under-rail portion thereof up against the rail, and means on one of said members in addition to said bearings serving to hold said bar and gripping member against separation when free of the rail.

16. A rail anchor comprising in combination a resilient bar formed at one end with upper and lower jaws for gripping one base flange of a rail and provided at the other end with means for locking engagement with the edge portion of the other base flange of the rail, and a rigid rail gripping member comprising jaw portions spaced apart longitudinally of the rail and embracing the jaw end of said bar, means on said jaw member projecting beneath the rail to provide a support for the under-rail portion of said bar and a cross bar uniting said plate and projecting through the loop portion of said bar to hold said bar and rigid member against separation.

17. A rail anchor comprising in combination a resilient bar formed at one end with upper and lower jaws for gripping one base flange of a rail and provided at the other end with means for locking engagement with the edge portion of the other base flange of the rail, and a rigid rail gripping member comprising jaw portions spaced apart longitudinally of the rail and embracing the jaw end of saidbar, means on said jaw member projecting beneath the rail to provide a support for the underra.il portion of said bar and a through the loop portion of said bar to hold said bar and rigid member against separation,

cross bar uniting said plate and projecting and means on said rigidV member serving as Y a striking face to .receive the final blow of the driving implement during thefapplication ofthe anchor to a rail.

18. A rail anchor comprising in combination a resilient bar formed at one end with upper and lower jaws for gripping one base flange of a rail and provided at the other end with means for locking engagement with the edge portion of the other base flange of the rail, and a rigid rail gripping member comprising jaw portions spaced apa-rt longitudinally of the rail and embracing the jaw end of said bar, means on said jaw member projecting beneath the rail to provide a support for the under-rail portion of said bar and a cross bar uniting said plate and projecting through the loop portion of said bar to hold said bar and rigid member against separation, the said rigid gripping member including a portion which normally projects beyond the outer face of the loop portion ofsaid bar when the anchor is in its applied position and serving to receive the final blow of an applying implement during the application of the anchor to a rail.

HAROLD Gr.v WARE. 

